Chester’s first super cinema the Gaumont Palace, Brook Street, opened on the 2nd March 1931. It was originally going to be called the Regent Theatre and was designed by William T. Benslyn for Provincial Cinematograph Theatres(PCT). The mayor, John Morris performed the opening. Among the many in attendance were the architect and the sheriff of Chester, Robert Mathewson, who would later open Chester’s last super cinema the ABC Regal Cinema. The opening film at the Gaumont Palace was “On Approval” starring Tom Walls. A Compton 3Manual/8Rank organ was installed, played in the opening week by Leslie James. The frontage was mock Tudor style and the entrance was likened to an Italian palace – the ceiling coloured blue and gold, relieved in red. The fan shaped auditorium’s ceiling was orange, relieved by green, mauve and red. It was stated at the time of opening that the balcony, seating 800, was probably the largest in Northern England. The cinema had a Tudor style restaurant called ‘The Oak’. The projection room was manned by seven projectionists and there were three Gaumont Eclipse projectors with turntables for sound on disc, which was never used. Later Kalee 21 equipment and Duosonic sound was employed. There was also a slide projector and spot. The stage was 30 feet deep and there were nine dressing rooms. Over its lifetime the Gaumont staged numerous live shows, including pop packages in the late 1950’s. The cinema finally closed on the 9th December 1961 with the film “The-Marriage-Go-Round” starring Susan Hayward. After closure the building was converted into a Top Rank Ten Pin Bowling alley. Later it became The Top Rank Bingo Club. The original dome is still there hidden by a false ceiling. Unfortunately it is now flaking and a net has been put under. The Kalee 21s were installed in the Odeon until they moved up to Cinemeccanica in 1966. Today the building continues as a Mecca Bingo Club. (information supplied by www.cinematreasures.org)
Capitol Former Fly Tower of Capitol Cinema Aberdeen - The Capitol was an outstanding intact survivor from the era of the super cinema, and was also among the first British cinemas in the Moderne style. Built 1933 and closed as a cinema 1996.
One of the original Odeon’s built for and operated by the Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd. The Odeon opened on 10th May 1937 with George Formby in "Keep Your Seats Please". Although located in the town centre, the Odeon was hidden away up a narrow side street. Designed by Budge Reid working out of the Harry Weedon Partnership office, the exterior is impressive, but a little ‘boxy’. The facade is clad in cream faiance tiles, and there is a large fin tower jutting out of the centre of the facade, which contained the Odeon name on top. Inside the auditorium, seating was provided for 978 in the stalls and 602 in the circle. The interior decoration was by interior designers Mollo & Egan, and lighting was by a Holophane system over the proscenium and on splay walls beside the proscenium. This consisted of a mass of small circlular dishes, which were lit by a three colour lighting system, that was changeble. There were also troughs containing concealed lighting in the ceiling, again with Holophane lighting. The Odeon was sold by the Rank Organisation to the Classic Cinemas chain in around 1972, and it was re-named Classic Cinema. Classic Cinemas had previously purchased the former Gaumont Yeovil in November 1967, and that had been renamed Classic Cinema. When the Odeon was taken over, the Classic name was transfered from the Gaumont/Classic to the Odeon, and the Gaumont/Classic became a Vogue Bingo Club. The Classic Cinema was tripled in November 1972, with 600 seats in the former circle screen and two 400-seat screens in the former stalls area. In the 1980’s it was taken over by the Cannon Group and re-named Cannon, later taken over by MGM, then by the Virgin Cinemas chain and re-named yet again. On 2nd May 1996 it was taken over by the ABC chain, and re-named ABC. The ABC was closed on Easter Sunday in April 2002, when the new 10-screen Cineworld multiplex opened in the town. The former Odeon was converted into ‘The Old Cinema Bed & Sofa Store’ which opened on 3rd January 2004. Externally, the building remains as built in 1937, though without signage. Most of the internal decoration has been retained.
